QFest film festival is rich with stars & coming-of-age sagas

The Sundance-approved "Gun Hill Road" is at QFest, Philly's homegrown gay and lesbian film festival, because it's about a teenage boy who wants to transition from male to female.

But "Gun Hill Road's" appeal goes beyond the niche LGBT audience. Rashaad Ernesto Green's full-length debut is about family dynamics and notions of masculinity in Latino culture. The boy's father, played by Enrique (Esai Morales), returns from prison to find his son Michael (Harmony Santana) is a different person. Santana, who appears in another Qfest film, "Eating Out: Drama Camp"; Morales; and Judy Reyes ("Scrubs") turn in powerful performances across the board.

In its 17 years, QFest has targeted gay and lesbian audiences, but that doesn't mean there is nothing of interest for the hetero crowd. Just because boys happen to kiss boys or girls are getting married to other girls doesn't mean these films don't have universal appeal. And unlike the city's other major festivals - the Philadelphia Film Society's Philadelphia Film Festival in the fall and the Philadelphia Cinema Alliance's CineFest in the spring - many of these movies won't be hitting a theater near you anytime soon.

Coming-of-age sagas are a mainstay at QFest, a Cinema Alliance production that opened yesterday and continues through July 18. "Jitters" is like an Icelandic version of the saucy British TV hit "Skins," about a group of friends boozing their way through teenage angst. "Circumstance" moves the teen scene to Tehran, Iran, and focuses on two young women - Atefeh and Shireen - who fall in love. This film illuminates an Iranian counterculture that is normally hidden, where women don't wear head scarves and are not stifled by the fundamentalist politics of their country's ruling party.

"Magnus!" explores the lighter side of adolescence. The title character (Ryan Boggus) is a paraplegic theater nerd who yearns to play the title role in "Jesus Christ Spectacular," a low-rent "Jesus Christ Superstar," but the school board of River City, Texas, has other plans. "Magnus!" is worth the price of admission to see cult director John Waters ("Pink Flamingos") in full-on Jesus regalia.

Waters is not the only famous face to hit up QFest. In fact, "Magnus!" alone boasts character actress Jennifer Coolidge ("Legally Blonde," "Best in Show") and Heather Matarazzo ("Welcome to the Dollhouse," "The Princess Diaries"). Gay brothers John and Gary Levin get a push from Dolly Parton herself in their doc "Dollywood to Hollywood." And "The Perfect Family" is QFest's most star-heavy offering, featuring Kathleen Turner, "Bones" star Emily Deschanel and Richard Chamberlain harkening back to "The Thornbirds" by donning a clerical collar once again.

But for film buffs, the most exciting celebrity appearance is possibly behind the camera. German-born Tom Tykwer, who directed the arthouse blockbuster "Run Lola Run" and came to our shores with "The International" starring Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman, examines marital indiscretions and open relationships in his German-language flick "Three."

On the considerably lighter side of the spectrum is "Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same." Madeleine Olnek's debut is more pastiche of '50s sci-fi than romantic comedy, but it's a loving tribute to the black-and-white flicks of yesterday complete with horrible special effects.

Straight or gay, what Philadelphian doesn't want to catch a glimpse of fellow denizens on screen? "Married in Spandex" follows two West Philly-based ladies - Amanda Kole and Rachel Turanski - as they road trip it to Ames, Iowa, to tie the knot.

QFest, through July 18, $10-$15 per screening, tickets can be purchased at qfest.com, by calling 267-765-9800 ext. 4 or by visiting TLA Video at 1520 Locust St. or 763 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr.